All seats contested in Haverstraw's Democratic primary

6 Dems in Haverstraw, convention nominees, will face challengers

Jul. 16, 2013

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GARNERVILLE — For the first time in Haverstraw town’s political history, all seats up for election are contested in the Democratic Party primary.

“This is the first time I remember where the entire ticket is going to have a primary,” said Haverstraw town Democratic Committee chairman O. Fred Miller, 80, who took over the committee chairmanship in 1965. At that time, the primary election system hadn’t been introduced. This year’s primary election is Sept. 10.

Haverstraw town’s Democratic committee has controlled local politics as far back as people can remember. All local elected positions, including those in West Haverstraw and Haverstraw villages, are held by Democrats. Republicans have tried to get into the local political scene, and only one candidate, former Haverstraw village Mayor Francis “Bud” Wassmer, succeeded. After his 12-year tenure, Wassmer was ousted in November 2007 by the current Democratic mayor, Michael Kohut.

Miller said he didn’t know why this year was different, but said the contested primary would energize the party.

“It’s a good thing. It’s great for the Democratic Party. It’ll give people a chance to choose their candidate,” Miller said. “Of course, a majority of the committee within the Town of Haverstraw are supporting the nominee that came out of the town convention.”

Positions up for election in Haverstraw town are supervisor, two Town Board member positions, town clerk, receiver of taxes and superintendent of highways:

• Supervisor Howard Phillips is running for re-election as a committee nominee, and Pomona Village Trustee Rita Louie is challenging him in the primary.

• Town Board members Isidro “Papo” Cancel and Vincent Gamboli are seeking re-election as committee-designated candidates. Andres Nunez and former Haverstraw village Trustee Ricky Sanchez are challenging them, seeking the Democratic line.

• Town Clerk Karen Bulley, who was appointed to the position in January after Town Clerk Josephine Carella died in November, will run to secure her first full two-year term. Carella’s son, Bernard Carella, is running against Bulley in the primary.

• Superintendent of Highways Frank Brooks is not seeking re-election, and the committee picked George Wargo Jr. as its candidate. Barry Berman and John Piperato III are seeking the Democratic line.

Louie said the all-contested Democratic primary was a reflection of people’s frustration over “same old.”

“Everyone I meet, they all say to me, ‘It’s time,’” Louie said. “That’s the phrase I’m hearing over and over again.”

Louie said she believed Phillips is a nice person, but that hs is not doing important work for the community — such as retaining or bringing businesses that people want. Although the current administration has been supporting two development proposals — the Minisceongo Park shopping center and United Water New York’s desalination plant — no one in the community wants them, she said.

Phillips said he knows local residents, including seniors, support the shopping center plan. He added that all the town has said about the desalination plant project is that if United Water is required by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Public Service Commission to build a new source of water, Haverstraw wants to host it. He added that his administration has a proven record of accomplishments, including keeping property taxes and sewer charges among the lowest in the Hudson Valley while providing excellent services.

“We welcome the competition because it gives us an opportunity to let the people in Haverstraw know what we have been doing,” Phillips said. “We’re very proud of our record. We have a very accountable, transparent, open government.”

Miller said the committee would support the candidates who win the primary. “Best candidates will win, and Democratic candidates will remain as strong as it has been in the town of Haverstraw.”